When Success No Longer Fits: Reinvent Yourself

[upbeat music] This is Women Road Warriors with Shelley Johnson and Cathy Tacaro.

From the corporate office to the cab of a truck, they're here to inspire and empower women in all professions.

So gear down, sit back, and enjoy.

[upbeat music] Welcome.

We're an award-winning show dedicated to empowering women in every profession through inspiring stories and expert insights.

No topic's off limits on our show.

We power women on the road to success with expert and celebrity interviews and information you need.

I'm Shelley.

And I'm Cathy.

What happens when the title that once defined you no longer fits the woman you've become? Our guest today knows that moment firsthand, and her powerful reinvention story was featured on the Oprah podcast.

Adina Presley spent 34 years in corporate America.

She rose to vice president of operations and financial services, and helped hundreds of team members grow and advance.

Along the way, she saw something traditional leadership programs often overlook.

Many highly talented women, especially Black women, aren't struggling because they lack ability.

They're carrying the weight of being the only one in the room, working twice as hard for half the recognition, and leading without the support of people who truly understand the terrain.

That isn't a leadership gap, it's a structural one.

Today, as the founder and CEO of AKP Innovations, Adina helps women and organizations build confidence, emotional intelligence, clarity, and purpose-driven leadership.

She was named the 2025 Best Women's Empowerment Leader in the US, and a 2026 Woman to Watch.

She's also a global leadership trainer, the host of the Presley on Purpose podcast, and the award-winning author of Rise Into You: Reclaiming Power, Love, Life, and Legacy.

Today, we're gonna talk about how women can lead confidently through reinvention.

They can release outdated definitions of success, and build lives and leadership paths that feel authentic and full of purpose, while still being sustainable.

Adina, welcome to Women Road Warriors.

Cathy and I are really looking forward to this conversation.